First Baptist Church of Magdalena, NM

06/11/2026

What happens when everyone around Jesus fails?

In Matthew 26:47-75, the darkest night of Jesus’ earthly ministry unfolds. Judas arrives in the Garden of Gethsemane with a mob and betrays the Lord with a kiss. The disciples flee. Jesus is dragged before the high priest and falsely accused. Peter, who had boldly promised to die for Christ, denies Him three times before the rooster crows.

Yet amid the betrayal, fear, and failure, Jesus stands firm.

In this study, we explore:

• Why Judas’ kiss was such a profound act of treachery
• The significance of Peter drawing the sword in Gethsemane
• How Zechariah’s prophecy about the scattered sheep was fulfilled
• The likely illegal nature of Jesus’ nighttime trial
• Jesus’ powerful declaration before Caiaphas and its connection to Daniel 7 and Psalm 110
• Why the Son of Man coming on the clouds was understood as a claim to divine authority
• The contrast between Jesus’ faithfulness and Peter’s denial
• The difference between Judas’ remorse and Peter’s repentance
• How this passage points to the sovereignty of God and the hope of restoration

We will also examine Old Testament connections, Jewish context, and insights from both conservative evangelical scholarship and conservative Jewish perspectives to better understand this pivotal moment in the Passion narrative.

On the night when Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him, and the disciples fled, Jesus stood alone—and He did so willingly for us.

Scripture: Matthew 26:47-75

06/08/2026

Why did God send frogs, gnats, and flies upon Egypt? Were these merely natural disasters, or was something much deeper happening?

In this study of Exodus 8, we explore the second, third, and fourth plagues and uncover how each judgment was a direct challenge to Egypt’s false gods and Pharaoh’s claim to divine authority. We examine the Hebrew words behind the plagues, the likely species involved, and why the severity of these judgments would have shaken Egypt to its core.

We’ll also look at:

• The frog goddess and why frogs became a curse instead of a blessing
• Whether the plague was lice, gnats, mosquitoes, or something else
• The meaning of the mysterious “mixed swarm” of flies
• Why Egypt’s magicians admitted, “This is the finger of God”
• The first separation between Egypt and Israel in Goshen
• Pharaoh’s attempt to negotiate with God
• Why Moses refused to sacrifice inside Egypt
• The connection between Israel’s sacrifices and Egypt’s sacred animals
• What Exodus 8 teaches us about true repentance and false repentance

From both a conservative evangelical perspective and insights found in conservative Jewish scholarship, we’ll see that the Exodus was not merely about freedom from slavery—it was about freedom to worship the one true God.

📖 Scripture: Exodus 8

If this study encourages you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who wants to go deeper into God’s Word.

06/07/2026

The Light of the Gospel in a Blinded World

06/07/2026

After your alone time with the Lord (and the coffee He blessed you with), come fellowship with the family of God, praising Him with song and listening to His word!

06/05/2026

https://open.substack.com/pub/paulholt/p/the-light-doesnt-ask-permission?r=1l91s6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Some people call June “Pride Month.”

06/04/2026

Before the nails, before the crown of thorns, and before the cross, there was a garden.

In Gethsemane, Jesus faced the greatest spiritual battle in human history. As His disciples slept, the Good Shepherd stood alone. There, under the olive trees on the Mount of Olives, Jesus wrestled with the terrible cup that lay before Him—not merely physical suffering, but the full weight of God’s judgment against sin.

In this study of Matthew 26:30–46, we explore the rich biblical connections that make Gethsemane one of the most significant moments in Scripture:

• Why Jesus and His disciples sang the Passover Hallel before leaving the Upper Room
• The prophecy of the Shepherd being struck and the sheep being scattered (Zechariah 13)
• The prophetic significance of the Mount of Olives
• The meaning of Gethsemane, the “oil press,” and its connection to Isaiah 53
• The Old Testament imagery of the “cup” of God’s wrath
• Jesus as the Last Adam succeeding where the first Adam failed
• Why the disciples could not stay awake
• How Gethsemane prepared the way for Calvary
• What Christ’s submission teaches believers today

This passage reveals both the full humanity and full deity of Jesus Christ. We see His sorrow, His obedience, His love, and His determination to accomplish the Father’s will, even at the cost of His own life.

“Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” — Matthew 26:39

If this study encourages you, please like, subscribe, and share it with others who want to grow deeper in God’s Word.

06/01/2026

Did Aaron’s staff really become a snake… or something much more terrifying?

In Exodus 7, the battle between Moses and Pharaoh officially begins, and the details are far more fascinating than many people realize. The Hebrew text uses a different word than the normal word for serpent, leading some scholars to wonder if Aaron’s staff became a great reptile, sea monster, or even a dragon-like creature before the court of Pharaoh.

Why did Aaron’s rod swallow the rods of Egypt’s magicians? Why does God later preserve Aaron’s staff beside the Ark of the Covenant? Was the Nile literally turned to blood, and how did the Egyptians survive seven days without water?

In this verse-by-verse Bible study, we’ll explore:

• The difference between Moses’ rod, Aaron’s rod, and “the rod of God”
• The meaning of the Hebrew word tannin and its connection to dragons and sea monsters
• Egyptian symbolism behind the serpent and Pharaoh’s crown
• The significance of Aaron’s rod swallowing the magicians’ staffs
• How God systematically judged the gods of Egypt
• Whether the Nile became literal blood
• How the Egyptians found water during the first plague
• What Exodus 7 teaches us about God’s authority over kings, nations, and false gods

The confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh is more than a contest of miracles. It is a declaration that the God of Israel reigns over every earthly power and every spiritual counterfeit.

📖 Scripture: Exodus 7

05/31/2026

Liberty in Jesus

05/28/2026

Matthew 26:17–29 is the moment where the Passover reaches its appointed fulfillment. The lamb, the bread, the cup, the covenant, the blood, the deliverance, and the promise all converge in Jesus.

The first Exodus delivered Israel from Pharaoh.
The greater Exodus delivers sinners from sin and death.

The blood on the doorposts shielded Israel from judgment for one night in Egypt.
The blood of Christ secures forgiveness forever.

And Jesus does not leave His disciples with despair. He gives them bread, cup, covenant, forgiveness, and a promise:

“I will drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

05/25/2026

Why does Exodus 6 suddenly interrupt the story with a genealogy?

Most people read right past it — but this chapter contains some of the deepest covenant themes in the entire Exodus story. In this study, we explore why God reaffirms His covenant name, why Israel cannot hear Moses because of their “broken spirit,” and why the genealogy of Aaron and Moses is placed right in the middle of Israel’s coming redemption.

We’ll examine:

* The meaning of God revealing Himself as YHWH (Jehovah)
* The seven “I will” promises of redemption
* The Hebrew idea of a “broken spirit” under suffering
* Why the genealogy focuses on Levi, Aaron, and the priestly line
* Hidden foreshadowing involving Korah and future rebellion
* Why Aaron’s descendants are emphasized before the priesthood is even established
* How Exodus 6 prepares for Moses and Aaron’s authority before Pharaoh
* Connections between covenant identity, priesthood, and redemption

Drawing from both conservative evangelical and conservative Jewish perspectives, this study uncovers how Exodus 6 is far more than a transition chapter — it is a declaration that God remembers His covenant and preserves His people through generations.

📖 Passage: Exodus 6